• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.334-336
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• 2014

A new species named Aspergillus cumulatus sp. nov. is described in Aspergillus section Aspergillus (Eurotium state). The type strain (KACC $47316^T$) of this species was isolated from rice straw used in meju fermentations in Korea, and other strains were isolated from the air in a meju fermentation room. The species is characterized by growth at a wide range of water activities and the formation of aerial hyphae on malt extract 60% sucrose agar (ME60S) that resemble a cumulus cloud. Furthermore, A. cumulatus produces yellow ascomata containing small lenticular ascospores (5.1-5.7 ${\mu}m$) with a wide furrow, low equatorial crests, and tuberculate convex surface. The species is phylogenetically distinct from the other reported Aspergillus section Aspergillus species based on multilocus sequence typing using rDNA-ITS, ${\beta}$-tubulin, calmodulin, and RNA polymerase II genes.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2010

Fusarium species, a large group of plant pathogens, potentially pose quarantine concerns worldwide. Here, we focus on the development of a method for detecting four Fusarium species in quarantined plants in Korea: F. solani f. sp. cucurbitae, F. stilboides, F. redolens, and F. semitectum var. majus. Species-specific primers were designed from the nucleotide sequences of either the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF1) gene or RNA polymerase II subunit (RPB2) gene. Two different primer sets derived from TEF1, all specific to F. solani f. sp. cucurbitae, were able to differentiate the two races (1 and 2) of this species. A set of nested primers for each race was designed to confirm the PCR results. Similarly, two primer sets derived from RPB2 successfully amplified specific fragments from five F. stilboides isolates grouped within a single phylogenetic clade. A specific TEF1 primer set amplified a DNA fragment from only four of the 12 F. redolens strains examined, which were grouped within a single phylogenetic clade. All of the F. semitectum var. majus isolates could be specifically detected with a single RPB2 primer set. The specificity of the primer sets developed here was confirmed using a total of 130 Fusarium isolates.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.323-330
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• 2013

Objective : To develop a simple, reproducible model of disc degeneration in rabbits through percutaneous annular puncture and to confirm the degree of degeneration over time. Methods : Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits (4 to 5 months old and weighing approximately 3 to 3.5 kg each) underwent annular puncture of the L2-L3, L3-L4, and L4-L5 discs. Rabbits were sacrificed at 4, 8, or 20 weeks after puncture. For a longitudinal study to assess changes in disc height over time, serial X-rays were performed at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 20 weeks for rabbits in the 20-week group. Upon sacrifice, the whole spinal column and discs were extracted and analyzed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and histological staining. Results : The X-rays showed a slow, progressive decrease in disc height over time. Significant disc space narrowing compared to preoperative disc height was observed during the time period (p<0.001). The MRI grade, aggrecan, and matrix metalloprotease-13 mRNA expression and hematoxylin and eosin/safranin O/anti-collagen II staining were consistently indicative of degeneration, supporting the results of the X-ray data. Conclusion : Percutaneous annular puncture resulted in slow, reproducible disc degeneration that was confirmed by radiology, biochemistry, and histology. This in vivo model can be used to study and evaluate the safety and efficacy of biologic treatments for degenerative disc disease.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2019

A fungal isolate designated 17E029 was isolated from a soil sample in Jeju, Korea. The strain was similar to other Allantophomopsiella species in its morphological characteristics such as grey mycelia, conidiophore, and conidia sizes. The isolate produced aerial mycelia, which appeared grey on the reverse side of the media surfaces and turned black on the front side of the colonies. The conidiophores emanating from the hyphae were hyaline, grey, aseptate, branched, and $6.7{\sim}9.2{\times}1.8{\sim}2.5{\mu}m$. Conidiogenous cells were ovoid to subcylindrical, discrete, guttulate, and hyaline. Conidia were hyaline, aseptate, smooth, guttulate, oval to subcylindrical, irregular in shape, and $6.0{\sim}7.8{\times}3.0{\sim}3.4{\mu}m$. The strain was confirmed based on phylogenetic analysis of the closest related organism, A. pseudotsugae CBS 288.37, using the partial 28S, internal transcribed spacer rDNA regions, and partial RNA polymerase II second largest subunit locus (RPB2) gene sequences along with its culture characteristics. Therefore, morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain 17E029 is similar to the previously identified A. pseudotsugae. Hence, this species was described as A. pseudotsugae strain 17E029, which is a new record in Korea.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.112-117
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• 2021

α-Amanitin and β-amanitin are highly toxic bicyclic octapeptides responsible for the poisoning of poisonous mushrooms such as Amanita, Galerina, and Lepiota by inhibiting RNA polymerase II, DNA transcription, and protein synthesis. A sensitive, simple, and selective liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometric method using parallel reaction monitoring mode was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of α- and β-amanitin in mouse plasma to evaluate the toxicokinetics of α- and β-amanitin in mice. Protein precipitation of 5 μL mouse plasma sample with methanol as sample clean-up procedure and use of negative electrospray ionization resulted in better sensitivity and less matrix effect. The calibration curves for α- and β-amanitin in mouse plasma were linear over the range of 0.5-500 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day coefficient of variations and accuracies for α- and β-amanitin at four quality control concentrations were 3.1-14.6% and 92.5-115.0%, respectively. The present method was successfully applied to the toxicokinetic study of α- and β-amanitin after an oral administration of α- and β-amanitin at 1.5 mg/kg dose to male ICR mice.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.495-500
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• 2020

Leaf spot on lemon balm is frequently observed in Korea, causing considerable damage to crops. In 2014 and 2015, the occurrence of leaf spot was observed in several production greenhouses at Suwon, Gongju, and Namwon in Korea. Symptoms on lower leaves initially developed as small, distinct, discolored lesions, which enlarged progressively turning into dark brown, angular spots surrounded by purplish-brown margins. Based on the morphological characteristics and sequence analysis of actin (ACT), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S nrDNA (LSU), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), the fungus associated with the lemon balm leaf spot was determined as Septoria melissae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of lemon balm leaf spot caused by S. melissae in Asia as well as in Korea.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.279-282
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• 2020

In 2019, symptoms of Botrytis mold on the peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) 'Sarah Bernhardt' were observed during a survey of the commercial greenhouses of Gangjin County, South Korea. The initial symptoms, small brown spots, were observed mainly at the leaf margins. The lesions extended to the interior of leaves forming irregular spots in which abundant conidia developed. Fungal colonies were obtained from surface-sterilized tissue excised from growing edges of the lesions that were transferred to potato dextrose agar. Melanized irregular sclerotia were formed in these colonies after 40 days at 8℃. Molecular phylogeny based on sequences of genes for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, heat-shock protein 60, and RNA polymerase subunit II were highest for the PBC-2 isolate to the type strains of Botrytis cinerea, rather than other Botrytis species associated with peony diseases. Following Koch's postulates, healthy Sarah Bernhardt plants were inoculated with a foliar application of conidial suspensions of the isolate PBC-2. Following incubation under humidity with a 12 hr photoperiod for 7 days, symptoms developed on the leaf margins that were identical to those observed in the greenhouses. This study is the first report of Botrytis blight caused by B. cinerea on peonies grown in commercial greenhouses in South Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.511-518
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• 2020

This study was conducted to isolate and identify the fungal pathogen caused unreported post-harvest disease on apples (cv. Fuji) fruit in Korea. The disease symptoms on apples appeared as irregular, light to dark brown, slightly sunken spots. The three fungal strains were isolated from infected tissues of apple fruits and their cultural and morphological characteristics were completely consistent with those of Plenodomus collinsoniae. The phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, beta-tubulin (TUB), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) sequences revealed the closest relationship of the isolates with Plenodomus collinsoniae at the species level. The pathogenicity test showed the same dark brown spots on Fuji apple cultivar. Therefore, P. collinsoniae is a newly reported fungal agent causing post-harvest disease on apples in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.423-443
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• 2020

Freshwater fungi are a poly-phylogenetic group of taxonomically diverse organisms. In this study, we isolated diverse fungal strains from various environmental samples obtained from freshwaters in Korea. These strains were identified by performing molecular phylogenetic analyses of rDNA and/or other sequences (beta-tubulin, RNA polymerase II, and translation elongation factor 1). In addition, we examined their morphological characteristics microscopically and cultural characteristics using different media. We identified eleven unrecorded Pezizomycotina species: Cladosporium angulosum, Pseudorobillarda phragmitis, Paraconiothyrium estuarinum, Pseudopithomyces palmicola, Pyrenochaetopsis paucisetosa, Thelebolus globosus, Plagiostoma mejianum, Trichoderma cremeum, Fusarium tanahbumbuense, Coniochaeta endophytica, and Chaetomium tenue. Environmental samples obtained from different freshwater ecosystems in Korea could thus be a good source for isolating and investigating novel fungal species.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.329-338
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• 2021

Alternaria leaf blight is one of the most common diseases in watermelon worldwide. In Korea, however, the Alternaria species causing the watermelon leaf blight have not been investigated thoroughly. A total of 16 Alternaria isolates was recovered from diseased watermelon leaves with leaf blight symptoms, which were collected from 14 fields in Korea. Analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) were not competent to differentiate the Alternaria isolates. On the contrary, analysis of amplicon size of the histone H3 (HIS3) gene successfully differentiated the isolates into three Alternaria subgroups, and further sequence analysis of them identified three Alternaria spp. Alternaria tenuissima, A. gaisen, and A. alternata. Representative Alternaria isolates from three species induced dark brown leaf spot lesions on detached watermelon leaves, indicating that A. tenuissima, A. gaisen, and A. alternata are all causal agents of Alternaria leaf blight. Our results indicate that the Alternaria species associated watermelon leaf blight in Korea is more complex than reported previously. This is the first report regarding the population structure of Alternaria species causing watermelon leaf blight in Korea.